RATIONALE: When we were asked to do this project and choose a person to do it about I was perplexed and couldn’t think of a person to do. Who do I know that has done something to help Israel? Someone who made an impact? I suddenly remembered that someone in my own house has done just that. For the project I choose my mother, Paige Farkas. I want to show readers what an impact she has already and will make in the future, regarding her job as a dermatologist and the difficulties of making aliyah. Why did she decide to leave such a successful practice in America? How hard was it? I would like to learn more about her decisions and search for answers, I’m sure I have some things to learn from her. PROFILE:
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Aliyah was always an idealistic dream for Dr. Paige Farkas, and she has achieved aliyah despite the fact that she had a thriving dermatology practice in New Jersey; she left it to achieve her dream of aliyah and became one of the few doctors to leave their successful practices and move to Israel to help the people of Israel. Zionism was always an important part of Dr. Farkas’s childhood. She grew up in Queens, New York, where she attended many yeshivas that taught her the importance of Israel. She became very involved in her community, in a Zionistic sense, as she grew older. “I found that in my generation,” Paige says “where I grew up, there were much more Zionistic ideas and goals as opposed to the older generation where, although they were pro Israel, they didn’t do much to support Israel.” As a child she had always dreamed about coming here and her family got close a couple of times but things had always gotten in the way. Though Paige already had such a strong connection to loving Israel, she still wanted to strengthen it even more, more then just coming with her family for visits or a year in yeshiva, she wanted to make a difference by helping Am Yisroel out, by living in Eretz Yisroel. It is always important for our country to flourish and that was Paige’s idea when she decided that she was going to take her family to make Aliyah. You need to have people in Israel that have connections to people outside of Israel to help spread the word. The media doesn’t do help Israel and so the Jewish people have to be responsible to tell others about it. Paige says that being in Israel helps the Jewish nation flourish and she wants to spread knowledge, to both outside and in Israel. It’s important that everyone know, not from a media perspective but from the perspective of a family living in Israel, what exactly is going on. Before moving to Israel though, Paige had to complete an immense amount of business to try and sell her practice and find all of her children schools, and a house, but she was still persistent, and continued onward with her and her familys aliyah. In order for a country to survive, it needs to have supporters. Paige Farkas has and always will be an enormous supporter of Israel. Even if she had never had the opportunity to move here, she still would have dedicated her life to Israel in every way possible. Although she says that leaving most of her family was very difficult, and still is, she knew what her dreams were since she was a child and she would pursue.
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On August 18, the Farkas family took a Nefesh B’ Nefesh flight to Israel. People on the flight were surprised to hear about her selling such a flourishing practice to come to Israel without any occupation. Did you know that Israel is one of the top 5 countries with the most percentage of skin cancer? This was a big reason for Dr. Farkas’s perseverance in wanting to continue practicing dermatology in Efrat. “I want to learn more” Dr. Farkas says, “about the skin diseases that have been increasing over the last couple of years, and help do something about it.” Although obtaining a medical license here can be very difficult she remains determined to help the people of Israel by sharing her knowledge of skin cancer and what they can do to prevent it. Dr. Farkas must go to a medical ulpan daily in Jerusalem to get her medical license, although it can be tedious at times, she says that she is willing to do what it takes to help Israel with it’s medical problems. Dr. Farkas says one of the major problems Israel has acquired in regard to skin is that fact that people don’t put on sunscreen when it starts to get warm out and that, even if it doesn’t seem hot the sun can be very damaging and enhances the risk of gaining sun damage. It is much more risky of getting medically damaged in Israel than most citizens know, and Dr. Paige Farkas is here to help those people make a difference in their lives and I think this is very important because it can greatly increase the number of citizens in Israel, hence more supporters and more Zionism going around the world. This job helps the society here in Israel become healthier and more aware. As someone who has always had a dream of coming to Israel, Dr. Paige Farkas now comes and helps the people of Israel in the process.
Background: Paige Farkas wouldn’t have been able to come to Israel, let alone help the people, if it weren’t for Nefesh B' Nefesh. NBN is a non-profit organization that helps and encourages people to make aliyah. Rabi Yehoshua Fass originally created NBN, after the death of a family. He realized that many people wanted to immigrate to Israel, however they didn’t get the opportunity, because of all of the potential obstacles that could occur. Because of this, Rabbi Fass and Tony Gelbart, from Florida, decided to start a program to make immigration to Israel easier. Nefesh B Nefesh is based in Jerusalem and assists people from the United Kingdoms and the United States with financial, logistical, professional, and social problems that can occur during the process of making aliyah. The first Aliyah flight of NBN happened during the summer of 2002. As the years followed, the amount of people who make aliyah on NBN has increased each year. In addition to the increasing amount of people taking nefesh b’ nefesh flights, the efficiency of the Aliyah process has also become much more sophisticated over the years. Instead of the new olim having to apply to become citizens, they just have a “one-stop” with NBN. Nefesh B’ Nefesh provides the olim with much needed help, before, during, and after their flights. Due to their assistance nefesh b nefesh helps adults, teenagers, and children obtain the right mindset about making aliyah. They help so many people come to live in Israel and make it easier for them to do so. Nefesh B Nefesh assist so many families when it comes to make Aliyah, which in the end helps Israel become a better place.
Creative connection: I chose to draw a picture that would reflect the importance of religious unification in Israel. In my picture there are three soldiers, all from different units of the army, praying at the kotel. This picture depicts how Israelis come forth, in a religious sense, to pray together at a time of need. They are all always there for each other especially in Israel. Israel is a religious home for the Jews, a place where Jews can come together and be united. Like the picture illustrates, the kotel is a place where these very different, but Jewish, people come to unite around a common place where they all feel stable and know that it is always a place they can go to feel united. The soldiers symbolize the different groups of people that come together. They are all from different units of the army, and are different people, but when it comes to a time in need they will be there for each other. Like the Jewish people, they gather in Israeli from all over the world, all different people, with different back grounds and different life styles, but they all join together for a common purpose, and that is to help the Jewish nation, and all the people in it. Reflection: When I first started working on this project I thought I would come out of it just learning a little bit more about Paige, and the motives behind her Aliyah, but I ended up with the results of knowing so much more. I emerged from this project with the knowledge of knowing the importance of helping other people. I’ve also realized the unity that the Jewish people have. Paige Farkas sacrificed a thriving practice in the U.S. just for the unity in Israel and to actually be a part of it. Hearing about her story, and her reasons for moving to Israel, helps me appreciate it even more, that I live in such an amazing country full of unification and a nation that cares so much about one another. Jews who lived years before us would never have pictured being so united, let alone having a state of Israel. We have so many privileges, such as the wonderful Nefesh B’ Nefesh, that helps so many people fulfill their dreams, and evidently, those people, help other people. Israel is the only place where Jews can fully live to grow to reach their full potential. It is the only place where Jews really belong. Without it, we wouldn’t have the unity we have today. The importance of unity as a Jewish nation helps so many people. Like Dr. Farkas helping the people of Israel with her knowledge on skin, and diseases. It has such a great impact on the rest of the world and it shows them that we are a united people and we stand together as one. I think just being that one face in that united crowd makes such a difference, and it makes a much greater impact if, while standing in that crowd, you live in Israel.
Israel-By Tad Campbell The land of my people finds no destination upon a map no address or signpost Its doors open to an inner sanctuary upon colorful patterns which dress the past in the fabric of this earth A harvest of generations with roots sown to the circle of hills as waters of the sea gently bath in the light Echoing the inner invitation and ever-rising heartbeat to return to a most sacred place There I feel the miraculous light of the glowing menorah taste the sweet challah of the expectant Shabbat hear the Eternal’s words within the life-changing Torah and stand ever-ready to take up the shofar’s call as it weaves through my days and nights embracing me, converting me into the prayerful man I seek to be And it is here I am united in the land of hope with you my true family in the land of Israel My literary connection, “Israel”, by Tad Campbell, is a very meaningful poem. It shows how Israel is a home for every Jewish person, “the land of my people” it states, in the first line of the poem. Israel is a place where every Jewish person feels at home and at ease in Israel. It states in the last line of the poem, “And it is here I am united in the land of hope with you my true family in the land of Israel.” This poem shows the unity that every Jew feels. That every Jew has a special place to go to when they are lost, or need help, because there will always be another person their to help them. Like Paige Farkas, who moved to Israel to help Jewish people around the state of Israel. In addition to being an Israeli, Jewish citizen, this poem shows that there is a lot of meaning to living in Israel. It shows the vitality in living here, and how lucky I am to live in such a miraculous place, as it says in the poem “a most sacred place” where all the people are joined together like one. This poem is important for many people to read just so that they can understand the importance of Israel, and its meaning to the Jewish people.
When we were asked to do this project and choose a person to do it about I was perplexed and couldn’t think of a person to do. Who do I know that has done something to help Israel? Someone who made an impact? I suddenly remembered that someone in my own house has done just that. For the project I choose my mother, Paige Farkas. I want to show readers what an impact she has already and will make in the future, regarding her job as a dermatologist and the difficulties of making aliyah. Why did she decide to leave such a successful practice in America? How hard was it? I would like to learn more about her decisions and search for answers, I’m sure I have some things to learn from her.
PROFILE:
Paige says that being in Israel helps the Jewish nation flourish and she wants to spread knowledge, to both outside and in Israel. It’s important that everyone know, not from a media perspective but from the perspective of a family living in Israel, what exactly is going on.
Before moving to Israel though, Paige had to complete an immense amount of business to try and sell her practice and find all of her children schools, and a house, but she was still persistent, and continued onward with her and her familys aliyah. In order for a country to survive, it needs to have supporters. Paige Farkas has and always will be an enormous supporter of Israel. Even if she had never had the opportunity to move here, she still would have dedicated her life to Israel in every way possible. Although she says that leaving most of her family was very difficult, and still is, she knew what her dreams were since she was a child and she would pursue.
Did you know that Israel is one of the top 5 countries with the most percentage of skin cancer? This was a big reason for Dr. Farkas’s perseverance in wanting to continue practicing dermatology in Efrat. “I want to learn more” Dr. Farkas says, “about the skin diseases that have been increasing over the last couple of years, and help do something about it.” Although obtaining a medical license here can be very difficult she remains determined to help the people of Israel by sharing her knowledge of skin cancer and what they can do to prevent it. Dr. Farkas must go to a medical ulpan daily in Jerusalem to get her medical license, although it can be tedious at times, she says that she is willing to do what it takes to help Israel with it’s medical problems. Dr. Farkas says one of the major problems Israel has acquired in regard to skin is that fact that people don’t put on sunscreen when it starts to get warm out and that, even if it doesn’t seem hot the sun can be very damaging and enhances the risk of gaining sun damage.
It is much more risky of getting medically damaged in Israel than most citizens know, and Dr. Paige Farkas is here to help those people make a difference in their lives and I think this is very important because it can greatly increase the number of citizens in Israel, hence more supporters and more Zionism going around the world. This job helps the society here in Israel become healthier and more aware.
As someone who has always had a dream of coming to Israel, Dr. Paige Farkas now comes and helps the people of Israel in the process.
Background:
Paige Farkas wouldn’t have been able to come to Israel, let alone help the people, if it weren’t for Nefesh B' Nefesh.
The first Aliyah flight of NBN happened during the summer of 2002. As the years followed, the amount of people who make aliyah on NBN has increased each year. In addition to the increasing amount of people taking nefesh b’ nefesh flights, the efficiency of the Aliyah process has also become much more sophisticated over the years. Instead of the new olim having to apply to become citizens, they just have a “one-stop” with NBN.
Nefesh B’ Nefesh provides the olim with much needed help, before, during, and after their flights. Due to their assistance nefesh b nefesh helps adults, teenagers, and children obtain the right mindset about making aliyah. They help so many people come to live in Israel and make it easier for them to do so.
Nefesh B Nefesh assist so many families when it comes to make Aliyah, which in the end helps Israel become a better place.
Creative connection:
I chose to draw a picture that would reflect the importance of religious unification in Israel. In my picture there are three soldiers, all from different units of the army, praying at the kotel. This picture depicts how Israelis come forth, in a religious sense, to pray together at a time of need. They are all always there for each other especially in Israel. Israel is a religious home for the Jews, a place where Jews can come together and be united. Like the picture illustrates, the kotel is a place where these very different, but Jewish, people come to unite around a common place where they all feel stable and know that it is always a place they can go to feel united.
The soldiers symbolize the different groups of people that come together. They are all from different units of the army, and are different people, but when it comes to a time in need they will be there for each other. Like the Jewish people, they gather in Israeli from all over the world, all different people, with different back grounds and different life styles, but they all join together for a common purpose, and that is to help the Jewish nation, and all the people in it.
Reflection:
When I first started working on this project I thought I would come out of it just learning a little bit more about Paige, and the motives behind her Aliyah, but I ended up with the results of knowing so much more.
I emerged from this project with the knowledge of knowing the importance of helping other people. I’ve also realized the unity that the Jewish people have. Paige Farkas sacrificed a thriving practice in the U.S. just for the unity in Israel and to actually be a part of it.
Israel is the only place where Jews can fully live to grow to reach their full potential. It is the only place where Jews really belong. Without it, we wouldn’t have the unity we have today. The importance of unity as a Jewish nation helps so many people. Like Dr. Farkas helping the people of Israel with her knowledge on skin, and diseases. It has such a great impact on the rest of the world and it shows them that we are a united people and we stand together as one.
I think just being that one face in that united crowd makes such a difference, and it makes a much greater impact if, while standing in that crowd, you live in Israel.
Israel-By Tad Campbell
The land of my people
finds no destination upon a map
no address or signpost
Its doors open to an inner sanctuary
upon colorful patterns
which dress the past
in the fabric of this earth
A harvest of generations with roots sown to the circle of hills as waters of the sea gently bath in the light
Echoing the inner invitation and ever-rising heartbeat to return to a most sacred place
There I feel the miraculous light of the glowing menorah taste the sweet challah of the expectant Shabbat hear the Eternal’s words within the life-changing Torah and stand ever-ready to take up the shofar’s call as it weaves through my days and nights embracing me, converting me into the prayerful man I seek to be
And it is here I am united in the land of hope with you my true family in the land of Israel